It's the last day of August! Why not treat yourself to a copy of Lockdown? http://thelockdown.co.uk/

UK Link   -   US Link

Leah's practical joke has spiraled way out of control. Now everyone seems convinced that the apocalypse is coming - in the form of zombies. The government is calling the virus AM13, and is advising – or more like forcing - everyone to stay indoors while they 'clean up the mess'.Leah tries to persuade everyone that it was all just a horrible mistake, however she starts to see there may be more truth to it all than she first thought.

Lockdown - sample

Rival: The Fall Away Series

 

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Bully and Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the two years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Two years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

Buy Rival on Amazon

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author:

Penelope Douglas is a writer living in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to "just get the damn degree!" She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she HATED public administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later she was married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.

Website - Facebook - Twitter

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Samie's Review: Wow this is a steamy story filled with love, lust, revenge and betrayal. The fast paced plot is driven by the strong, feisty characters as their pasts are slowly revealed. The writing is absolutely brilliant and it gets better as the plot goes on, sucking the reader deeper and deeper, until you can't bear to put the book down! Penelope Douglas is an amazing author and I can't wait to read more from her (starting with the previous books in this series!) 

*This is bought to you by thelockdown.co.uk blog*

The Mill River Redemption

New from the New York Times best selling author Darcie Chan...

Josie DiSanti is starting over. Recently widowed, she has fled her New York City home with her two young daughters—spirited Rose and shy Emily—in tow. She takes refuge in Mill River, Vermont, to live with her only remaining relative, Ivy Collard, the local bookstore owner and a woman Josie barely knows. There, the young mother and her girls build a new life for themselves—until a shocking tragedy tears the sisters apart.
 
Years later, Josie’s still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town for the reading of their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safe-deposit box containing their inheritance. Even from the great beyond, it seems Josie will do anything to bring about her daughters’ reconciliation. Having no choice but to go along with their mother’s final wishes, Rose and Emily move back to Mill River for the summer to begin the search—discovering that, in the close-knit community known for magic and miracles, an even greater treasure awaits them.

Darcie Chan Amazon.com - Darcie Chan Amazon.co.uk

About the Author: Darcie Chan is the New York Times bestselling author of the eBook sensation The Mill River Recluse and the novel The Mill River Redemption. She has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. For fourteen years, Chan worked as an attorney drafting environmental and natural resource legislation for the U.S. Senate. She now writes fiction full-time and lives north of New York City with her husband and son.

Website - Facebook - Twitter

Samie's Review: I didn't know what to expect when I started to read The Mill River Redemption - the cover is eye catching and the blurb was captivating, but nothing could have prepared me for how great it was going to be! Filled with flawed, complex but realistic characters suffering through circumstances which can either bring out the best within them, the plot takes you on a heart warming journey which leaves you wanting to read more. I love the references to The Mill River Recluse (Darcie Chan's first book) and I really hope that there is much more to come in this series set in the quaint, but highly eventful town!

*This is bought to you by thelockdown.co.uk blog*

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle

The world of Harmony has its wonders, one of them being Rainshadow Island. Just beneath its surface, a maze of catacombs hides a dangerous secret...

Halloween-with its tricks and treats-is a dust bunny's dream come true. Just ask Lyle, Sedona Snow's faithful sidekick. But for Sedona, it's a nightmare. Though her new job managing a small hotel and tavern on Rainshadow is helping her move on from her tragic past, a bizarre disaster down in the catacombs has brought a pack of rowdy ghost hunters to her inn.

And now, Sedona's ex has arrived on the island, claiming he wants to get back together, just as a newcomer appears to have a strong interest in her. Cyrus Jones is the new Guild boss in town. He has his own agenda when it comes to Sedona, but even the best-laid plans are no match for the passion that springs up on Rainshadow...

More titles in the Harmony series: Dark Light, Obsidian Prey.

More titles in the Rainshadow series: Canyons of Night, Deception Cove, The Lost Night.

All available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

About the Author: 

Jayne Ann Krentz, who also writes historical and futuristic fiction under the pseudonyms Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle respectively, has more than fifty New York Times bestsellers under various pen names; more than twenty-five million copies of her books are in print. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Website - Facebook - Twitter

Samie's Review: The Hot Zone is the first in The Harmony Series that I have read - but I will certainly be returning to the beginning to read the rest! The characters are in-depth and wonderfully loveable. I was initially worried that I might find it confusing starting from in the middle of the series, but I was gripped from the very first page. The plot is filled with romance, mystery and highly unexpected twists and turns. I would recommend this book to anyone - it doesn't matter which genre you prefer, there is something in there for everyone!

*Reviews all come from thelockdown.co.uk blog*

Another Lockdown Review

"This is the first zombie book I have read in the first person and it did not disappoint. I was able to enjoy the whole ride feeling like the main character Leah and I loved that the protagonist was female. Unlike the usual gun slinging zombie apocalypse, Samie has provided a much more realistic plot-line allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the action as though it could really happen, whilst providing just as much entertainment. Well done!"

http://amzn.com/0988619695

Another Zombie Competition!

I have organised a Rafflecopter giveaway for you all! 

"Leah's practical joke has spiraled way out of control. Now everyone seems convinced that the apocalypse is coming - in the form of zombies. The government is calling the virus AM13, and is advising - well actually forcing - everyone to stay indoors while they 'clean up the mess'.

Leah tried to persuade everyone that it was all just a horrible mistake, however she starts to see there may be more truth to it all than she first thought.

With her friends Michelle and Jake, Leah must decide if she's going to obey the law (and her boss Jamie) and stay indoors until the whole thing blows over, or break out and do what she feels is right."

To enter, simply Like the Facebook Page (/SamieSandsLockdown), follow on Twitter (@SamieSands) and Tweet the message "RT to #win Lockdown - an awesome, unique new #zombie novel by @SamieSands http://thelockdown.co.uk/competitions"

Just remember to enter at http://thelockdown.co.uk/competitions to be put into the prize draw!

Zombie Short Story Competition

Please check out and vote for your favourite - whichever one wins will be included in the upcoming zombie anthology (http://thelockdown.co.uk/zombie-anthology)

Click to vote for your favourite short story or poem

Zombie Artwork Competition

Come and vote for the winner! Whichever entry gets the most votes will feature in the upcoming zombie anthology (http://thelockdown.co.uk/zombie-anthology)

Vote in the competition!

Layers of the Past

Blurb:

Huron Base has a name synonymous with power and intimidation. He’s made no apologies for doing what’s been necessary to survive a life rooted in poverty and pain. Endeavors drenched in blood and marked with bone have become his trademark in spite of his desire to be more-to be better. When he meets troubleshooter, Kamari Grade that desire receives the spark it’s been waiting on. It’s the spark that motivates Huron to once again strive to rise above his circumstances and at last become the better man he wants to be.

Change however, has its consequences...and its dangers. Many of Huron’s associates aren’t so supportive of his new found...desires. They are especially wary of his new found love. Kamari is a recognizable force in her field-one that keeps her too enmeshed in the circles of law enforcement that Huron’s associates strive to avoid. Huron knows that Kam doesn’t care who he was, only who he is- the man she loves. Still, he won’t allow that to blind him to what has to be done-the steps that must be taken to keep the woman he loves from becoming a casualty in a war between new enemies.

Author Bio:

AlTonya Washington has been a published romance novelist for 10 years. In 2013, her Harlequin Kimani novel "His Texas Touch" won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Series Romance of 2012. In addition to being an author, AlTonya also works as a college Reference Librarian. Writing as T. Onyx, AlTonya released her latest erotica "Ravenous: Ruler of Perfection II" in 2013.

Her newest title with Harlequin Kimani is "Provocative Passion" nominated for an AMB Ovation Award for Outstanding Interracial Romance and the sequel to the January 2013 release "Provocative Territory". In November she will release "A Lover's Debt", the 17th title in the Ramsey Tesano saga.

Twitter     Facebook     Website

Buy Links:

Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Smashwords

HOW TO MEET DEADLINES AND REMAIN SANE

BY ALTONYA WASHINGTON

             I’ve been a published author in the writing game for over ten years. I feel quite blessed whenever I hear someone stressing over deadlines. I started writing almost ten years before I ever received my first book contract. By that time, I’d had about 15 titles of varying length under my bed at home. My answer to remaining sane in the presence of deadlines is to be prepared or more importantly be over-prepared by having an almost obsessive desire to create.

            When I got ‘the call’ I’d been waiting on from the woman who would come to be my first editor, she had read a manuscript that I’d previously submitted to another editor who left the pub house before we could work together. The new editor wasn’t overwhelmed by the manuscript I had previously submitted, but she did enjoy my writing style and asked what else I had. When I told her the extent of my writing collection, she asked me to send in a list of my strongest works with brief synopses. Afterwards, she made a selection for two which resulted in her offering my first contract. Being prepared with a wealth of items to choose from was definitely a blessing. I was already anxious what with being offered a two book deal. My second book was very well received although I don’t know if that would have been the case if I’d been in a situation of having to create it from scratch on the heels of my first award nominated title.

            When there is no stress of deadlines, an author’s ability to create flows instead of stagnates. I worked for a newspaper advertising department early in my career so I tend to work pretty well under pressure. Having that sort of pressure early in my writing career however wasn’t something I wanted to experience. Now that I make a living in both the traditional and independent markets, my workload has increased. I find that it serves me well to lay out a writing calendar so that I can establish time to work on each aspect of the book from premise, to outline, to rough and final drafts. This kind of scheduling has been a godsend as it not only helps me to keep my projects in order, but it keeps me from feeling stressed that I may overlook a target date.

Luck of the Draw by Cheri Allan

BLURB:

If only life had a refresh button...

Kate Mitchell never planned to be a 31 year-old widowed single mom, but when her soon-to-be-EX husband up and dies, her dreams of finishing college and starting over are thrown in the air like a game of 52 pick-up. When she’s given a leave of absence from work and told to “quit or recommit,” Kate retreats to idyllic Sugar Falls, New Hampshire, to figure out whether she can discover her passion and pay the bills. Cue the fresh air, summer sunshine and one sexy local contractor.

Tall, dark, and handy…

Volunteer fireman and all-around hunky guy in a toolbelt, Jim Pearson has sworn off complicated women with messy baggage. They cling to his nice-guy stability and skills with a power saw just long enough to straighten out their lives and move on… but then he meets the cute single mom staying at Grams’ lake house for the summer.

While a sizzling attraction draws them together, Jim's distrust of complicated women and Kate's incredibly complicated life threaten to pull them apart.  But forces beyond their control—match-making grandmothers, the lazy backdrop of summer, and their own reckoning with the past—conspire to make them risk it all... and bet on love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Excerpt:

She could hear their breathing in the quiet room, the air a bit close from the heat of the day. She smiled.

He grimaced.

“Kate, I—”

She put her finger to his lips. “Please, don’t. I know this must seem crazy. We hardly know each other, but… I don’t want to analyze it. Not now.”

She didn’t want to talk. Didn’t want to admit her behavior was so far removed from her usual comfort zone it was like observing someone else. But Jim made her feel safe in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. Safe… and alive. No, that wasn’t right. He made her feel… hopeful. There was something about his eyes. So gentle, so kind. When she looked into his eyes, all the sad, lonely years melted away, and her heart felt light again, like a butterfly in her breast. She hadn’t felt that feeling in so very, very long. She couldn’t bear to turn it away. Not now. Not yet.

He nodded, his gaze boring into hers as he grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. His thumb brushed over her fingers as he looked at her hand. “You took off your ring,” he whispered.

She nodded, and he brought her hand to his lips again, looked her in the eyes. “Tell me what you want,” he said.

“For you to,” she managed a shaky breath, “do that again?”

He grinned against her wrist…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Author Bio:

Cheri Allan lives in a charming fixer-upper in rural New Hampshire with her husband, two children, one dog, four cats and an excessive amount of optimism. She’s a firm believer in do-it-yourself, new beginnings and happily-ever-afters, so after years of wearing suits, she’s grateful to finally put her English degree to good use writing romance. When not writing, you might find her whizzing down the slopes of a nearby mountain or inadvertently killing perennials in her garden.

Cheri loves to hear from readers! E-mail her at cheri@cheriallan.com, friend her at facebook.com/cheriallanauthor, or visit her website and blog at www.cheriallan.com. Luck of the Draw, Book 1 in the ‘Betting on Romance’ series is available now through Amazon and Smashwords.

Links:

Website     Facebook    Twitter

Amy Thompson Author Spotlight

~*~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~*~

Amy Thompson graduated from college with her B.S. in Biology. She currently works as a high school mentor and has just earned her M.S. in Higher Education. Amy is a self-published author of Retribution, a new adult, paranormal romance novel that is the first in the Lost Souls Trilogy. She lives in Southern Virginia with her family and two lazy cats. Amy Thompson is currently working on the next book in the Lost Souls Trilogy, Relinquish and continues to be an avid reader of all things books.

~*~BOOK LIST~*~

The Lost Souls series

~*~SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS~*~

Goodreads

Facebook

Blurb: 

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying goodbye to painful memories and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll pretend to be a carefree exchange student. Everything is going to plan until she meets a surly surfer with hypnotic green eyes, and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he slunk back to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. A single semester abroad won't cover something this serious. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Praise for Upside Down:

'Upside Down gave me all the feels. Romantic and poignant, the journey of love and acceptance lingers long after the book is closed' Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn, # 1 New York Times bestselling author

'Upside Down is one of those books that I wish I could read for the first time again . . . it's beautiful, heart-wrenching and something that everyone needs to read for themselves' Books by Migs

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00LV9AEEQ

About the Author: 

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.
She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

Web: www.liariley.com
Twitter: @liarileywrites
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorliariley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/liariley
Tumblr: http://liarileywrites.tumblr.com

Samie's Review:

Wow...I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished reading it! It's absolutely amazing. The plot flows so well, driven by characters with so much heartache and promise in their lives. I won't give away too much about the story line, all I will say is that I can't recommend this book enough. If you love romance novels and are looking for something that you won't be able to forget...this is the one for you! Lia Riley is an amazing author and I can't wait to read more from her!

The Man Test

 Marin Johns is San Francisco’s Pollyanna couples therapist. She’s months away from wedded bliss when she discovers her fiancé is having an affair. After nursing her broken heart with Kleenex and break-up songs, she adopts a new brand of thinking when she uncovers a tell-all book that proves all men are liars and cheaters who will do and say anything so they’re not found out. No exceptions.

In an attempt to convince her friends of her newfound truth, she begins a fictitious relationship with James, a do-gooder from Montana. Marin seeks any means necessary to catch him cheating from hiring a PI to enlisting the help of a fidelity tester. Will her new "boyfriend" beat the statistic or will Marin regret the satisfaction of being right?

Add to Goodreads

 

Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

iBooks

About Amanda Askel

AMANDA (ah-MAHN-dah)- Latin- Meaning lovable or worthy of love.

Fitting. I've always had an affinity for love.
​
Being born in sunny San Diego in the mid 80’s to a young military couple gave me plenty of insight into the dynamics of a romantic relationship. Somewhere between moving coasts every three years, I found myself engrossed in fairytale romances and dressing up like a bride.
​
My first real love was writing. By my sophomore year in a new high school in Virginia, I had a slew of short stories, songs, poems, and articles to my name. Writing was fun. It was a way to get the emotions, dialogue, and pictures out of my head, and create a destiny for my characters.

​I had no intention of making a career in writing, because it wasn’t what I did, it was who I was. In reality, I wanted to be an actress. Ah, to be the face of someone else’s authored story. The plan was to move in with my aunt in L.A. after graduation, but had a change of heart. Instead, I stayed with my high school sweetheart (now husband) and attended a film school in Norfolk, VA. It was at this school that I discovered my love for writing screenplays and felt compelled to follow that path. But…as the practical girl I was brought up to be, I decided to go to a real university. While working full time, I completed my BA in Psychology in four and a half years. Becoming a couple’s therapist had always been my “backup” career and there I was on my way to solving love's most complicated quandaries one couple at a time.
​
With all my new free time after graduation, I decided to turn my full-length screenplay into a novel in hopes it would help my screenplay sell. I think I was in the middle of writing chapter two when I realized that everything I had ever written was to prepare me for that moment when I knew I was a novelist. Talk about the affirmation of my life. Now my plan is to solve love's most complicated quandaries one novel at a time.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest